Memo from the RTC: Newsies Opens July 19 and The Picasso of RTC

Memo from the RTC:  Newsies Opens July 19 and The Picasso of RTC

By Norm Scott

Another spectacular Rockaway Theatre Company summer musical is upon us with next week’s opening of Newsies, with a cast of thousands, directed and choreographed by Gabrielle Mangano who has been an RTC mainstay since her teens. This is a first for her as a director and as a member of the cast I have been very impressed with her command, her vision, her dedication, her sure touch and as important as anything, her relationship to the cast, many of whom are quite young and almost all of young men. This is unusual for community theater to do a successful male dominated dance-loaded musical since it is not always easy finding enough young men who can dance well. But Gabby has managed to hit the jackpot. Her being a teacher herself has certainly helped. In fact, I believe a lot of the success of the RTC for over two decades has been due to the involvement of so many educators.

Newsies is about very poor kids and young adults who sell newspapers on the street. Publishers led by Joseph Pulitzer raise prices. They go on strike, form a union, are beaten by the goons and police but ultimately win the strike after their leader, Jack Kelly, impresses NY State Governor Teddy Roosevelt, and a beautiful reporter. There’s a lot more politics embedded in the show than I thought there would be. And there’s romance too. And some great music  - it is a musical after all.

Newsboys need printing press to support their strike

Evolution of the printing press

The other day, Tony Homsey, master builder at the RTC, informed the set construction crew that we had to build an 1899 vintage printing press of considerable size. Renting one would cost over a grand. I have so little imagination I couldn’t see how Tony was going to manage to build such a replica. Simple – he started with an idea of a stripped down beach chair and built out from there. Amazing how Tony could envision a printer out of an aluminum beach chair. With the assistance of Cliff Hesse, they built a work of art that I hope outlasts the show. I was reminded of the famous Picasso sculpture where he took the handlebars and seat of a bicycle and created the head of a bull. That’s genius and we have our own Picasso at the RTC in Tony.

Performances of Newsies: July 19, 20, 26, 27/Aug 2, 3 at 8PM. Matinees July 21, 28, Aug. 4 t 2 PM. Tickets – Adults $25, Seniors/children $20. www.rockawaytheatre.org.

Franky and Johnny at the Clair de Bensonhurst

Speaking of key RTC people, John Panepinto, who has had leading and support roles in many productions over the past 8 years and will be joining the uber talented Frank Caiati as the assistant director of Gatsby. They also teamed up to produce a podcast. They are funny and astute. I will be attending one of their podcasts soon and will be back with some photos. Here are some fundamentals from John.

John sent this blurb: We are a group of Brooklyn natives (and one Queens) who decided they wanted to learn more about the people around them. The show is recorded and produced in the heart of Bensonhurst, a staple of "Old Brooklyn." The guests range from local everyday workers like a doctor, a soldier or a lawyer to Brooklyn celebrities. They are always looking for more guests and also hope to be learn even more about average every day people doing average (important) things.

           

The Nothing Podcast

Hosts: John Panepinto and Frank Caiati

With: Danielle Rose Fisher, Matt Hunt, Joseph Hagopian and Tom Zaccheo

www.Nothing-Podcast.com

Facebook: The Nothing Podcast With Nobody Important

Norm blogs daily at ednotesonline.com